Sexuality is an integral part of the personality of every human being. Itsfull development depends upon the satisfaction of basic human needs such as thedesire for contact, intimacy, emotional expression, pleasure, tenderness andlove.

Sexuality is constructed through the interaction between the individualand social structures. Full development of sexuality is essential forindividual, interpersonal, and societal well being.

Sexual rights are universal human rights based on the inherent freedom,dignity, and equality of all human beings. Since health is a fundamental humanright, so must sexual health be a basic human right.

In order to assure that human beings and societies develop healthysexuality, the following sexual rights must be recognized, promoted, respected,and defended by all societies through all means. Sexual health is the result ofan environment that recognizes, respects and exercises these sexualrights.

1. The right to sexual freedom. Sexual freedom encompasses the possibilityfor individuals to express their full sexual potential. However, this excludesall forms of sexual coercion, exploitation and abuse at any time and situationsin life.

2. The right to sexual autonomy, sexual integrity, and safety of the sexualbody. This right involves the ability to make autonomous decisions about one’ssexual life within a context of one’s own personal and social ethics. It alsoencompasses control and enjoyment of our own bodies free from torture,mutilation and violence of any sort.

3. The right to sexual privacy. This involves the right for individualdecisions and behaviors about intimacy as long as they do not intrude on thesexual rights of others.

4. The right to sexual equity. This refers to freedom from all forms ofdiscrimination regardless of sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, race, socialclass, religion, or physical and emotional disability.

5. The right to sexual pleasure. Sexual pleasure, including autoeroticism,is a source of physical, psychological, intellectual and spiritual wellbeing.

6. The right to emotional sexual expression. Sexual expression is more thanerotic pleasure or sexual acts. Individuals have a right to express theirsexuality through communication, touch, emotional expression and love.

7. The right to sexually associate freely. This means the possibility tomarry or not, to divorce, and to establish other types of responsible sexualassociations.

8. The right to make free and responsible reproductive choices. Thisencompasses the right to decide whether or not to have children, the number andspacing of children, and the right to full access to the means of fertilityregulation.

9. The right to sexual information based upon scientific inquiry. Thisright implies that sexual information should be generated through the process ofunencumbered and yet scientifically ethical inquiry, and disseminated inappropriate ways at all societal levels.

10. The right to comprehensive sexuality education. This is a lifelongprocess from birth throughout the life cycle and should involve all socialinstitutions.

11. The right to sexual health care. Sexual health care should be availablefor prevention and treatment of all sexual concerns, problems anddisorders.

Sexual Rights are Fundamental and Universal HumanRightsAdopted in Hong Kong at the 14th World Congress of Sexology, August 26, 1999

I was just thinking about this earlier today... about the feminists and others who really think that pleasure isn't or shouldn't be important (see Twisty on orgasms and sneezes), at least not until the world is just.

And I was thinking... yeah, true, pleasure shouldn't be considered the major goal of life (I'm not a hedonist in the philosophical sense) but a life without pleasure to enrich it is a terrible one.

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About This Blog

Why yes, this blog is dedicated to pro-porn activism! With the belief that pornography falls under the auspices free speech and expression, and is legitimate entertainment for consenting adults, if made for and by consenting adults. One, as a consenting adult, has the right to make and view pornography as they choose.